Monday, March 06, 2006
It is with great sadness I am blogging this tonight. Kirby Puckett was one of those rare players who played his entire major league career with the Minnesota Twins. That is very rare these days where players change teams for the big bucks they can get.
Besides that Kirby Puckett was a nice guy in the game. He was kind and down to earth. He was always happy in his interviews.
I was sad to see him have to retire from baseball at an early age due to glaucoma, but glad to see him make the Hall of Fame.
Tonight I send my condolences to his family.
Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett Dies
Posted at 06:13 pm by RWO
First of all I would like to welcome Laila's son, Jun Jun, home from a job abroad in Saudi Arabia. I hope the family has a great reunion.
Yesterday even though I wasn't going to watch, I turned on the Academy Awards show and watched it with my new woman. It was kind of neat to watch and comment on the awards with her, and it gave me a sense of closeness, even though 7000 miles of ocean separate us.
I was glad to see politics left out, though I was not impressed with the movies that were nominated. I just don't get the whole gay agenda thing and while I have nothing against gays, I do not appreciate their lifestyle being shoved in my face all the time. Sexual orientation is a private thing. I always feel pressured when I see Hollywood portray the gay agenda. It is like they want me to fully accept it, which I will never do, as it is against my religious beliefs. I will respect a persons right to do what they want in life, but I do not want nor need it in my face all the time.
The fact that a movie had to be about gays or other dark and sinister subjects to be nominated, might just explain why Hollywood is losing money and why the awards show has such low ratings. I fully expect over the next few years to see the Academy Awards passed off the some entertainment channel like E or maybe USA. Main stream America does not care about the egos of the stars, and when you get some jerk like George Clooney saying that drivel he spread about Hollywood bringing up the issues, it just has a tendency to cause people like me to tune out. Even my woman seemed to kind of get bored with the whole thing as she started playing games online about halfway through it. Note to Hollywood, you are losing more and more of your audience.
And what was it with the original song award going to "It's Hard out there for a Pimp"? Sorry, that whole thing there disgusted me. The music industry along with Hollywood just doesn't seem to get things either. I am glad when I see this stuff go on as it just strengthens the will of the right.
I thought Jon Stewart did an all right job hosting, though I think people like Johnny Carson and Billy Crystal have done a better job in the past. At least they put it on early enough so it did not affect my prime time viewing on the other networks.
All in all, while I felt good watching it because I was doing something with my woman, I could have been happier watching reruns on A and E, or TNT. Oh and I forgot to comment on what idiots these folks look like when they have to come up with their own acceptance speech. Some couldn't seem to get their words straight when acting as presenters. Maybe the teleprompter was too far away. Sure is good that people that make movies have lots of extra film, so they can shoot all the scenes 75 times until the stars get the lines right.
Anyhow that is my take on the annual Hollywood's "Pat themselves on the back" night. I just wish they could get back to making movies that are worth watching.
Posted at 04:11 pm by RWO
Sunday, March 05, 2006
This morning after chatting a bit I decided to attend the 11 AM mass vice the 9:30 mass. I went ahead and signed off chat and took a nap. I woke up at 10:20 and was on my way to the bathroom to shower when the doorbell rang. After taking care of my visitor, I took a quick shower, got dressed and off to church I sped, arriving about 5 minutes late. There was no room in the pews so I stood in the back and one of the ushers said I could go upstairs as there was some seating up there. It was pretty crowded there too, but there was room. There were alot of little ones around and they were distracting at times.
Today's first reading was Genesis 9:8-15 (23B) which was when God made the covenent with Noah about the ark. The second reading was I Peter 3:18-22 which again talked about Noah, but related it to baptism and the cleansing of sin.
The Gospel was Mark 1:12-15 where Jesus went out to the desert for forty days and was amongst the beasts. Father Ron went on to tell us the the beasts represented bad things in our lives, such as people who get us in trouble, or temptations that cause us to do bad things. He told us to look at the good people and things in our lives and weigh that against the bad. In that way you honor the lord.
It was a pretty good message, and though in the past I have not really followed it the way I should, since I have started going back to the church, I have tried to get rid of some of those bad temptations, and things from the past. While I know I will never be perfect, at least I am giving it a good try. I guess time will tell.
Anyway, now I am back home trying to get caught up on a few things. I have been trying to clean a few small areas each day, so that things overall stay clean. It is a little hard where the dogs camp out, but when I do a little each day, it isn't that bad.
Now if I could just get my son to keep his cooking in the pans and not all over the stove top everything would be good. Anyway, back to the chores at hand. I hope everyone had a good weekend.
Posted at 01:43 pm by RWO
Saturday, March 04, 2006
The state of Arizona has the right idea concerning illegal immigration. They are treating it as a felony under state law since the feds can't seem to get anything done about it.
Now I would like to see the same thing happen in other states. Just the other day on my way home from work I watched a car with Baja plates run a stop sign, weave all over the road and then make an illegal turn into the parking lot of Paradise Valley Hospital. Just getting their free healthcare I guess.
Anyway I would like to see California do something similar as I see that this will move the problem out of Arizona and into the rest of the border states. Anyway here is the story.
Arizona crackdown charges illegals as 'felony conspirators'
Posted at 03:42 pm by RWO
Friday, March 03, 2006
Yesterday was the 1st class petty officers examination and most of the people I work with took the test. It kind of made things a little lonely in the lab but since I have a small class things went very well.
Anyway when they came back the old discussion of the questions began, and it was entertaining for all as they figured out what they got right, wrong, or even some that nobody had a clue on.
Anyway in celebration they all decided to take off early and have a party at Joe's Crab Shack in Mission Valley.
I was going to go, but since it is the first Friday of Lent I am trying to do what the church has asked and fast. I have been to Joe's before and the food is excellent and inexpensive, so it was a little hard to bow out. Anyway I guess I will have to wait until the next instructors day out to go with the boys.
Posted at 03:45 pm by RWO
I haven't blogged about this yet but today Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham was sentenced to 100 months in prison for taking about 2 million dollars in bribes. I think he should have got the full 120 months, as this was such a blatant case of bribery.
Many folks believe that since he was a former navy pilot, Vietnam War hero, and a Top Gun Pilot he should have been granted a lite sentence. I do not agree with that, as this was such an obvious breach of law and ethics.
Lets face it, he was a crook, complete with what he expected for his support to the companies he steered the contracts to. His military service was basically a non-factor other than it gave him some credibility and contacts to help his contracts for sale program go ahead.
This man is a disgrace to all that have worn the uniform. I am also embarrassed that he was a republican. His defense team was asking for leniency, as he is so old. I just say he should have thought about that before he sold out his country and his constituents for a rich lavish life style.
What really gets my goat I that this man will still get his retirement checks, both from the military and from the Congress. I figure all that should be taken away from him after what he pulled. Anyway may he have fun now paying for his crimes.
Posted at 03:16 pm by RWO
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Last night I had the opportunity to attend church for Ash Wednesday. This is the first time in years that I have done that and I have to tell you, it was a good feeling to attend.
I was really surprised at how many people attended as all the pews were full and all the walls were lined with people. There were even people standing by all the doors. The priest I think gave an abbreviated service as he only did the first reading and the gospel message.
The message he gave was very good, as he stressed honesty with God. He said that many people make a big deal about charity work by bragging about it, and the same with praying. What you give and when you give should be between you and God and not just for bragging rights to make you feel better.
He also said the same thing about praying. That while it is great to attend church frequently and all, that you must also pray at home in quiet, when it is just you and God. I do that each day as I have developed a routine where each day when I get home from work, I go right to my bedroom and recite rosary after saying a few prayers. I have found that is the best place to do it, because I am away from the phone, TV, and computer.
He also talked of the fact that when we give something up for Lent, that it be something meaningful that causes us some inconvenience and makes us think. That also should be done in private as that is between you and God. Also if you give something up for Lent, that means at home as well as in public.
Anyway, I am glad I went and this year I will try and attend all the services leading up to Easter. I purposely arranged this trip to visit my woman during these holidays so that we can both grow more attached to the church, as we are both returning after long absences.
I was really surprised as after fasting all day yesterday I really felt like I was starving to death all the way up until the mass started. After mass I went home and took my time preparing food as I had lost some of that hungry feeling while at mass.
Anyhow, I have been reading the church calendar to see what is coming up and will to take an active part in all the special masses and services available here, and then when I go overseas to visit my woman I will do the same there.
Posted at 04:16 pm by RWO
On my way to work this morning I was listening to the Rick Robert's show and I guess he was complaining about an ordeal where he had to deal with someone from India on the phone. Since it only takes me 10 to 15 minutes to get to work and because of all the commercials, I didn't catch the reason he was dealing with someone from overseas, but I have experienced what he is talking about.
He was saying the guy's accent was very heavy and therefore hard to understand. He didn't feel that he understood what was being said. I had the same problem when dealing with Travelocity a few months back.
Rick then went on to start talking about how if you can't understand the workers than avoid doing business with that company. I can respect that, however as our world grows more and more diverse, we are going to have to deal with these accents more and more.
Understanding and communicating with people with accents takes a little patience, but it is possible. First so they can understand you, talk slower. I have a tendency to talk fast, especially when I am excited about something. My woman constantly has to tell me to slow down when talking to her. I have to do the same thing when she is talking as she has a deep accent. But then is it her that has the accent or me?
In the many years I had spent in the Navy, I had the opportunity to meet people from many different countries and have learned to have patience when talking with others. I was usually a visitor to their country I always had to remember that I was the foreigner, so maybe that is why I have a different mindset on this.
Many Americans have this feeling that the world revolves around the United States. When you experience world travel as I have done, you will see how big the real world is and how many people are in that world. You have to realize that they do not do things the same way we do, and keep in mind that just because that is the way we do things doesn't make it right.
While everyone is so upset about having to deal with customer service representatives and telemarketers maybe we should look at the reasons these jobs are going overseas in the first place. It is because we need people to fill these jobs, and since they are fairly low paying, they don't seem to be filled here so they are outsourced. Maybe we can bring the jobs back and have them filled by people on welfare, but then do you want a welfare mom telling you how to fix your computer or handle your air travel booking?
The people that are filling these jobs overseas know what they are doing and seem to be educated. I have had no problems communicating with them, but then I am a patient listener. Yeah, you can get mad at them, cuss them out and act like a jerk, but does that solve anything? These people are just looking for work to feed their families and are usually in countries with huge unemployment. It is not their fault they have an accent and being abusive will just give them a bad impression of Americans. Believe it or not everyone in this country is an ambassador of good will, when they deal with folks from a different country. Try and keep that in mind when you are dealing with them and let's show them what good people American's really are.
Posted at 04:15 pm by RWO
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
For those of you entering the blogshares mission being sponsored by Laila and myself, I guess there were a few questions concerning our contest. Let me try and clear up what we are looking for.
Laila and I have from time to time blogged about our strategies and other blogshares game stuff. What we are looking in the contest is for people look at our blogshares entries where we have talked about different ways we have played the game. Then make comments about what you felt were good strategies (usually Laila) or some really bad moves (usually me).
Until the devaluation, Laila and I were both in the top 5 of players in the game. I have not played as often as I used to because of time constraints between school, work, family problems then a new love life taking up all my time. I hope, now that I have my life getting back on track, to devote a little more time to the game, though it will still be limited.
So go ahead read our blog entries concerning the game and tell us what you think. That is the contest and I would like to wish everyone who gives it a shot, good luck.
Posted at 03:15 pm by RWO
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Today is an anniversary of sorts as 2 years ago was when the mighty blogshares duo or RWO and Lady Laila* hooked up on blogshares for the first time. It wasn't a nice meeting, but it was the first message in what has developed into a wonderful friendship. Since the initial PM calling me on the carpet for something I did in the game causing her huge losses, we have become friends and teammates, exchanging strategies and game tips.
We have chatted about everything almost daily from game strategies, family life, and world events. We have run contests together, held auctions, and are sponsoring a child through Save the Children. Anyway, I am glad I met her and I hope we can figure out a new blogshares strategy to get us back on top of the standing.
By the way Laila and I are running a contest. To enter click here: HERE
Posted at 08:39 pm by RWO
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